Maxbialystock

I have said that many, many times on talksox. In their best season ever the Sox had 108 wins, a 67% win percentage. They confirmed that strength in the postseason by beating the Yankees 3 games to 1, Houston 4 games to 1 and the Dodgers 4 games to 1. Their offense was ranked #1 in runs scored and team OPS. Pitching was 6th in ERA, 7th in saves, 8th in On base average, and tied for 10th in quality starts. I think the best reason for the closeness of the winning percentages in MLB is the season's length, 162 games, which translates to 6 games a week for 6 freaking months. When you combine that incredibly long season with the difficulty of hitting a round ball with a round ball squarely and of throwing strikes with a variety of speeds, spins, and aiming points, it seems to me obvious why the teams going to the postseason win around 60% and the total dirt bag losers are around 40%. In 2004 the Yankees winning % (101 wins) was .623 and the bungling Blue Jays, 33.5 games behind the Yankees, were at .416. That's a 20% difference in winning percentage. Oh, and let's not forget the rotten, stinking, no good 2024 Red Sox losers at 50% and the ALE leaders/winners Yankees way, way up there at 58%. Sox finished 20 games back of the Yankees with a freaking 8% differential in winning percentage.

I think the point is that the stats guys say bunting is bad and facing a batter for the third time (or more) is dumb. I like the bunt because it's different and can be effective. I also like starters hanging around as long as they are effective. The problem with relief pitchers is you can't always be sure they will be better than they guy they replace.

Yup.

I like it.

Very exciting game but a very painful bottom of the 11th. Bello gave up 3 runs and the bullpen 8.

I agree--you don't know.

Can't fight 20-20 hindsight.

Agree. What about Ref at first base? I'm convinced that Breslow's campaign to force Devers to play first base has nothing to do with available resources and everything to do with moving Yoshida into the DH slot.

Thoughtful, as always. I'm not against platooning, but must point out that the Sox so far are hitting lefties--OPS .773--a lot better than righties--OPS .735. However, the Sox so far have had 1157 at bats vs righties and just 334 at bats vs lefties. Here are the OPS's vs righties (and against lefties in paretheses)-- Abreu 1.008 (.515) Bregman .954 (.933) Devers .943 (.804) Refsnyder .833 (1.015) Gonzalez .828 (.707) Campbell .789 (.593) Duran .721 (.572) Rafaela .669 (.644) Narvaez .639 (.976) Toro .563 (.000) Story . 549 (1.073) Hamilton .469 (.500) Wong .355 (.650) One foolish footnote. Am I the only one who knows that Ref started as a secondbaseman and has played every infield position except SS and every outfield position? Why isn't he at 1b?

I don't watch much NBA, but nevertheless doubt it's fixed. For one thing, I believe the biggest change in the NBA is that they have embraced the three as never before--and you can't "fix" threes. Last night I thought the Knicks won because they made 38 of 58 twos, including several "dreaded" (low percentage) mid-range jumpers. I don't think Tatum's injury was a big factor because he in fact played 40 of 48 minutes and scored 43 points with 8 rebs. There is so much contact in the NBA it's hard to find fault with the refs, who I'm sure are told not to call "tic-tac" fouls. I had forgotten how much more rigorous the defense becomes in the playoffs.

Toro ain't the problem, not by a long shot. He had nothing to do with last night's loss, and in the previous two starts, both Sox wins, he did nothing egregiously wrong. Why do you and everyone else keep ignoring the fact that, when he was injured, Casas's OPS was -0.8? As I keep saying and you and others keep ignoring, replacing Casas is the easiest thing in the world. I agree Toro is just a bandaid, but believe Gonzalez is good enough to finish this season at first base. By the way, another bandaid is already on the team. Wong played 1b last season, and Narvaez so far The real reason why everyone in the known universe thinks 1b is a big deal is because Breslow wants Devers to play 1b even though Devers is now the best hitting DH in the American League.

He can't play because Devers is a vastly better DH and because, as moonslav says, the Sox are knee deep in competent, competitive outfielders. I believe Breslow and folks above him have decided it's better to smear Devers--and they've done a good job of that--than to admit they have no idea what to do with Yoshida. All that said, I think Devers does have a modicum of fielding ability and could be a nice fit at 1b. What pisses me off is that this has nothing to do with the Casas injury. As I've said too many times, he was having a bad season (OPS .580) before the injury. Gonzalez's OPS is .785, so he should be a more than adequate replacement once he gets off the IL. Since Breslow caused all this and just might try to dump Devers, whom he's already branded as a malcontent and lingerer, If he does, he's giving up a huge bat, probably with very little in return.

So now he's given up 9 runs in 3 IP. Nobody's perfect.

No proof, per se, but a lot agreement that Cora told him he would not need his glove anymore. He was also told before the Bregman trade that 3b was his forever. Frankly, I think right now is just about perfect--Bregman at 3b and Devers the DH. I do not understand the rush to move him to 1b when he is hitting so well at the DH. Plus, as I keep saying, Gonzalez is a good fix at 1b. I also keep saying management wants Yoshida to DH because he's being paid a lot of money to nothing.

Meh. He's not as good as last year but has had several decent starts this year. 11 days ago 7 IP and 1 ER, for example.

Why should he play 1b this season? Since when is having the best DH in the AL a bad idea? Neither Ortiz or JDM was ever asked to play a field position full time. Because he was a DH, Ortiz was still a terrific hitter at age 40, his final season (2016)--151 games and an OPS of 1.061. And why is everyone insisting that we need a great hitting firstbaseman when the injured Casas was having a horrible season? Gonzalez is the answer for 1B. It's that simple. And let's not forget that some combination of Cora and Breslow lied to Devers in spring training. To me the amazing right now, Mon, May12, is that playing Bregman at 3b and Devers at DH is working like gangbusters. Bregman has been fantastic and now so is Devers. Why oh why mess with success? I'll tell you why. Bregman wants Yoshida to DH because otherwise he is unplayable and getting paid a lot of money. What pisses me off is that management won't admit that and instead has done all it can to make Devers the bad guy.

Breslow is happy to overpay for a firstbaseman. He demonstrated that by going public that he wants Devers to play 1b. That was after Cora told Devers his glove days were over and to focus on hitting. While I disagree with Breslow in this matter, I recognize this Sox team has a lot of potential this season thanks to the players he has brought in. Bregman and Crochet have both been huge. Narvaez hitting and catching are already better than Wong's. Right now Giolito, last season's complete bust (and about whom I repeatedly reminded everyone that Breslow was an idiot), looks like a viable starter. Chapman. Fitts, who Breslow got from the Yankees for Verdugo (whose departure opened up RF for Abreu). Romy Gonzalez, whom the Sox picked up on waivers after Breslow replaced Bloom.

Meh. I agree he can't hit (so far), but I also don't care that he can't. Casas wasn't hitting much either. The Sox won both games Toro started at 1b--against a hot KC team. Plus Cora has at least two other options with the current crew. When Gonzalez gets off the IL, he will be better for the Sox than Casas was. Also, Wong played some first base last year.

Sox took 2/3 at KC while giving up exactly 1 ER in 3 games. So the pitching looks pretty good. KC has the 2d best team ERA in MLB and the Sox scored 14 runs off them in 3 games. Three games are miniscule in a 162 game season, but nevertheless I find those 3 games to be encouraging. Chapman is a relief pitcher, period. Not closing happens when you can't get guys out. But you can still contribute as the setup guy or whatever and work your way back to closing. Almost every closer faces that reality. Devers played 3b for 8 seasons and in 3 of them went to the ASG, so of course he was out of sorts when Bregman was hired and basically given 3b. However, it was a good move, as we all agree. Bregman is hitting great and playing a good third base (DWAR +0.3). Cora declared to Devers he would be DH forever, I think mostly to get him to focus on hitting and nothing else. As it turns out, DH is perfect for Devers, just as it was for Ortiz and JDM. He's the only Sox player in all 42 games this season. This could even increase his long term viability as a hitter. Ortiz was 40 all of his last season, played in 151 games, and had an OPS of 1.061. To me moving Devers to DH was smart and moving him to 1b is just stupid. It will distract from his hitting, make him more vulnerable to injury, and possibly subject him to ridicule if he doesn't pan out. On top of that, there is absolutely no urgent need to replace a lousy hitter (Casas this season), with one of your top three hitters on the Sox. When the Sox came to KC last Friday, the Royals were one of the hottest teams in MLB. The Sox won 2 of 3 and in the 2 wins hitless Sogard played 1b. I think Gonzalez will be just fine at 1b when he comes off the IL.

He does cost too much because he has said he still deserves "millions" to play. His last contract was $32M for 2 years.

1. He stinks. 2. He's expensive and said so to reporters. He will not play for less than "millions."

Oakland has no one remotely as valuable as Abreu. Plus losing Casas is no big deal. His WAR was -0.8.

Love to see Anthony in LF, but right now I'm fine with Duran in LF and Rafaela in CF. I may change my mind by the All-Star break or later. More to the point, I see absolutely no reason to make a deal to replace Casas. When he was hurt his WAR was -0.8. Losing him didn't hurt one bit. Sabol has played 2 games at 1b and the Sox won both of them. And Gonzalez's WAR is +0.4. Alternatively, Anthony or Mayer could be asked if they want to take a shot at 1b for Worcester in hopes of getting to Boston. Both are lefty bats and both are 6'3".

Not really. I agree he could get injured running the bases or swinging the bat, but a possible injury while fielding is additive, not separate. If you look at the Sox individual batting stats, you will see Devers is the only Sox player who has been in all 42 games. That's the value added of a good DH bat--he never gets tired. In addition, staying as the DH could extend his value to the team. David Ortiz turned 40 before his last season--in which he played 151 games with 626 plate appearances and a little ol' OPS of 1.021.

One more time even though no one is listening. The Sox don't need a great first baseman to replace Casas. In fact, a lousy one will do. Sogard has played two games at 1b and the Sox won both of them. How many times do I have to remind you people that Casas was a liability this season? He had a WAR of -0.8. Replacing him is the easiest thing in the world. So why look further than Romy Gonzalez (now on the IL)? His WAR is +0.4, a huge improvement over Casas. So is his OPS, .785 to Casas' .580. Heck, Connor Wong played 1b a few times last season. If the Sox could find a pretty good firstbaseman at a reasonable price, I'd be for it. But they can't. Heck, I'd even move Story to 1b and move Mayer up to Boston. Right now Devers is hitting well, and I think part of that is being a full-time DH.